The government would provide GPS devices for families to track their autistic children under a new law inspired by the Avonte Oquendo tragedy.
“Avonte’s Law” would expand a government program in place for families of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said one day after the funeral for the autistic 14-year-old boy who disappeared from his Queens school.
“We can’t change the past, but we can take necessary steps to ensure we learn from this,” said Schumer, who is asking for $10 million in funding. The devices reduce the time it takes to find someone by 95 percent, he said.
Oquendo’s remains were found in the East River in Queens on Jan. 16 — more than three months after he went missing from his Long Island City school.